Want to stop paying rent and own your own home?  Need help with closing costs and down payment assistance? Staffed by professional counselors, the Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance Home Ownership Center offers free credit counseling, homebuyer readiness training, real estate education, post-purchase counseling, and foreclosure prevention.  Primarily intended for low- to moderate-income families, these services are provided free of charge.  More information is available at www.midcityredevelopment.org or by phoning 346-1000.

The V-Day campaign is a global movement to end violence against women and girls. The Baton Rouge Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response Center will host a performance of Eve Ensler's award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues, on Thursday, March 22nd at 7pm at the Lyceum Dean Ballroom, 124 Third Street. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and funds for local agencies working to end gender violence. Ticket information is available at www.brstar.org

The Dutchtown branch of the Ascension Parish Library is happy to present "The Life of Blues Legend Slim Harpo" on Thursday February 23 at 6:30 p.m.  Join Johnny Palazzotto to pay homage to blues harmonica master Slim Harpo, whose contributions helped establish the foundation for the Baton Rouge area's reputation as Louisiana's focal point for blues music.  Palazzatto, executive director and co-founder of the Baton Rouge Blues Foundation as well as a member of the Board of Governor's Memphis Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, is currently producing a documentary film on Harpo's life.  This program is free and open to the public.  More information can be found at www.myapl.org or by phoning 673-8699.

The Baton Rouge Chapter of “Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays” (PFLAG) will meet Thursday, February 16, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the Unitarian Church, 8470 Goodwood Blvd.

Would you like to build a computer and learn basic computer operations, software usage, and computer troubleshooting and repair? Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council is offering a 10-week "All About Computers" course, starting April 14th, taking place Saturdays 9 AM to Noon at the East Baton Rouge Carver Library. After the course ends, you get to keep the computer you built and used during the course. Space is limited. More information is available at CACRC at 1400 Main Street or by phoning 379-3577.

The Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response Center is seeking volunteers to staff the 24-hour crisis hotline and assist survivors at the hospital. The Center will conduct volunteer training classes beginning February 28th. If you are interested in assisting survivors of sexual assault, further information may be obtained by phoning (225) 389-3456 between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.

The Greater Baton Rouge Chapter of “Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays” (PFLAG) will meet Thursday, January 19 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 8470 Goodwood Blvd. The meeting will feature a 15-minute educational film, “Always My Son” followed by open discussion. “Always My Son,” is a documentary produced by the Family Acceptance Project to help families decrease their LGBT children's risk for suicide, substance abuse, depression, HIV, homelessness and placement in foster care or juvenile justice settings -- by increasing family support. New research shows that family accepting and rejecting behaviors have a compelling impact on their LGBT children's health and mental health. Following the film and discussion, small support group sessions, including a parents group, will be held giving the Baton Rouge community a safe environment where families, friends, and LGBT people can support one another through dialogue and connection.

PFLAG is a national organization with a mission is to provide support, education and advocacy for the LGBT community. The meeting is also open to the public for anyone who would like to help in our efforts to “Move Equality Forward.”

The Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council is a nonprofit that recycles computer equipment and electronics. CACRC also has refurbished Windows 7 Computers available for low income families, nonprofits and the general public! Store hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm and Computer equipment drop offs are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4 pm. For more information look for CACRC on Facebook, or visit cacrc.com, or call 225-379-3577. CACRC is located at 1400 Main Street in downtown Baton Rouge.

Mid City Redevelopment Alliance has served the Mid City area for 20 years. MCRA will host a makeover for the Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service on January 16th. All volunteers are welcome. We especially need volunteers that are skilled in Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical Work, and Landscaping. The goal is to bring a community classroom to MCRA, and update the facilities to build our capacity for promoting the growth and renewal of the Mid City region. To sign up, please contact Chaz Cooper at 225-346-1000 extension 109, or chaz@midcityredevelopment.org

ARP -- Air dates: Jan 2 - Jan 16